Yuba City man admits stealing wire with wheelbarrow one time

A Yuba City man is out on bail again after he was arrested for using the same wheelbarrow to steal from the same business twice in the same week.

Randy Dean Gorham, 56, on Thursday admitted to the first burglary on Dec. 27, but denied responsibility for Wednesday's theft.

"I told (the Sheriff's Department) the first one was me, but they are trying to set me up for the second one," Gorham told the Appeal-Democrat. "The second charge is a bogus charge."

Gorham was arrested Wednesday for the second time in six days on suspicion of burglarizing Valley Pump & Motor Inc. in the 400 block of North George Washington Boulevard, the Sutter County Sheriff's Department reported.

Gorham acknowledged stealing various amounts of scrap metal, including pipe and copper wiring in December. He claimed deputies pinned the second burglary to him because "they've been out to get me for awhile."

Sheriff's spokeswoman Brenda Baker said Gorham used bolt cutters to break in on Dec. 27, swiped miscellaneous metals, valued at more than $10,000, stuffed them into several empty sandbags and carted everything away in a wheelbarrow.

Gorham posted bail and was released. He was arrested again around 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Investigators believe Gorham used the same wheelbarrow to steal the same types of metal from the same business a second time. Deputies found more stolen wires and wiring insulation, valued at around $1,000, at Gorham's home in the 3000 block of Franklin Road. Detectives also seized a wheelbarrow, Baker said.

Gorham claimed the wiring seized Wednesday was just leftover from the first burglary and said he believes authorities overvalued the cost of the theft.

He said he has not been able to find a job in more than three years.

"I don't like what I'm doing, but it's hard," Gorham said. "I got job applications all over, but nobody wants to hire a 56-year-old."

Gorham was booked into the Sutter County Jail on suspicion of felony grand theft and committing a felony while out on bail from a prior charge. He posted another $15,000 bail bond and was released from jail Wednesday.

Gorham is due for arraignment on Jan. 28 in Sutter County Superior Court.

He said he plans to fight the second case only.

Carl Bartlett, co-owner of Valley Pump & Motor, said his family's business has been hit hard in recent months by thefts.

"It's all stuff he's been taking to the scrap yard," Bartlett said.

The business, which has operated in Yuba City for 46 years, recently installed security cameras for added protection.